MSD - 6A QC

[hemi68charger]

Hey ya'll....
Curious on something.. Just finished priming the engine. Before we give it the initial heave-ho, I want to make sure the ignition is ready to go. The ignition is a MSD-6A and the wiring was pretty straight forward and I believe I have that fine. What are the normal testing steps to make sure things are squared away before we attempt to fire up the motor for the 1st time. It is in a '71 E-body, 440........

No go on start-up attempt.. I have voltage to the ballast resistor ( which really isn't one, I took out the coil and replaced it with a 14/gauge wire, 12 v in, 12v out ). I have voltage to the + side of the coil as well with ignition 1 on. Try to crank it, no juice out the coil wire to the distributor. The coil was warm to the touch when I replaced it with a known good coil. Sooooooo, I'm at a lose with the dang thing. I spoke to a friend who has put many in Mopars and my wiring is correct.

1. Big red > positive battery
2. Big black > negative battery
3. small red > ignition 1 ( ballast resistor )
4. white wire > no where, not needed
5. orange wire > positive coil
6. small black > negative coil

The distributor lead (magnetic pickup) goes from the control box to the distributor with supplied harness in box.

Thanks in advance..
Troy

[1970Moparmann]

Troy, four years ago I had the same issue with my 6a.   I've been trying to figure out what I did.... Can't freakin remember.  If the car was here I would go see.  Maybe it will dawn on me tonight or tomorrow. Sorry.....

[firefighter3931]

The small red is a trigger wire and needs 12v in both the run and start positions of the ignition circuit. Tie the blue & brown wires together (that come off the firewall) and connect to the small red. You can eliminate the ballist resistor.


Ron

[hemi68charger]

The small red is a trigger wire and needs 12v in both the run and start positions of the ignition circuit. Tie the blue & brown wires together (that come off the firewall) and connect to the small red. You can eliminate the ballist resistor.


Ron

I kept the ballast resistor solely for OEM looks..... I have taken out the coiled resistor and ceramic, thus replacing it with a straight gauged wire, I believe 14 gauge.. Regardless, it is the same gauge as the OEM wires going into the resistor (blue and brown).

[hemi68charger]

Figured it out....
Well, with the combination of the MSD installation pdf file I found online (reflecting the Chrysler electronic ignition system, not the points which this car started life with). Well, I didn't know I needed to remove the brown 12v feed at the +-side of the coil, I thought I would keep that there and place the orange + wire of the MSD harness there. Well, apparently leaving the brown OEM wire grounds the MSD system. I removed the brown + wire and sure enough, LOTS of spark coming out of the coil lead to the distributor. So, I'll wait till my buddy arrives tomorrow before the game and we'll attempt to fire her up. Don't wanna do it without him......   So ends the night with one less thing to stress out over since I was able to solve it...

Thanks all in guiding me to my process of elimination and discovery.
:thumb: